He had a dream too.

In botany, roots are of vital importance. They are the life of the plant. They bring nourishment to the plant and are one of the most leading factors to keeping the plant healthy. It is the same in understanding one's identity. As a Southern Baptist, I know I have my roots in Baptist doctrine, which was a development of the Reformation, though there were steps in between.

These steps are brought into being by people and in the case of religion, theologians. Though it is not necessary to agree with every idea or concept that any particular theologian, philosopher, scientist, or clergyman purports, it does give us insight into why we believe what we believe. I desire to focus on one of the most notable figures of the Reformation, Martin Luther.

Martin Luther (Nov. 10th, 1483-Feb. 18th, 1546)

Martin Luther is one of the most notable figures in relation to Christianity. It is interesting that under his own admission, Luther did not open a Bible until he was twenty. When he did open it, however, he found a loving God whose grace and mercy were fathomless. Martin Luther saw the need to rely on the mercy of God and not on human works, which he saw to be worthless. It was the selling of indulgences that inflamed Luther.

Luther’s teaching had a very strong emphasis on the relationship between God and humanity. The selling of indulgences as assurance to the masses of salvation was spiritual crime in Martin’s eyes. He preached against the practice and in doing so, incited the wrath of Rome.

Luther desired a reformation of the Catholic Church, not a split. He desired a healthy church with a structure more proper to those who were in it, humans. Luther taught that popes and councils could commit errors. This teaching went against Catholic teaching and only added to the intense aggravation between Luther and Rome. The end result of which was Luther being excommunicated in 1521.

While being excommunicated was grievous, it was neither unforeseen nor debilitating to Luther. Martin Luther believed that Scripture interprets Scripture. That finding the true and purest meaning of a text would be by examining it in context of those verses and within the entire framework of the Bible. Solo Scriptura was vital to Luther’s understanding of Christianity. Luther studied with fervor the Word of God. He followed a practice of monasticism in committing the Bible to memory.

Although Luther saw Scripture as primary, he did not deny tradition. Instead he viewed tradition as needing to be drawn from Scripture. There were traditions in the Old Testament that highlighted the Law, while the New Testament illumines the grace of the Gospel. The Law in Luther’s eyes was for making humanity aware of sin and of a God who demands justice and perfection from an imperfect and broken vessel. That is not to say that God demanded something unworthy of himself. That is where the Gospel comes in.

Practically, Luther held that the first commandment was the primary tool needed to understand the relationship between God and man. God’s freedom cannot and will not be limited by human efforts because God is God and man is not. Luther could not keep silent on the grace and mercy of the Gospel. He would not let a works based attempt at salvation go unopposed. It was grace alone of faith alone in Scripture alone of Christ alone that he needed to tell the world of. He did well.

A quick thought on motives...

With all of this talk about being relevant and intentional, I wonder if we are being driven by relevance in lieu of truth. Are we sacrificing the uniqueness of our message by masquerading it as something different? That is not to say that there is not a place for relevance and intentionality. I agree wholeheartedly that the Gospel needs to be lived in our lives.

Yet, the claim is often made that the nonbeliever needs to see us live out genuine Christianity. I disagree with this because I do not think it is possible. The nonbeliever cannot see genuine Christianity because they cannot see Christ genuinely. It is Christ that makes the Christian and those who are blind to Him cannot possibly see His manifested works. Again, that is not to say that we should not live in a manner that is humble, loving, and true. Rather, it is to say that we must live that way because those are things the estranged soul can see.